Maratha Activist Manoj Jarange Patil Announces Mumbai Protest March After 13-Day Hunger Strike
· India · The Hindu, Hindustan Times
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil announced plans to lead protesters to Mumbai from Jalna district, Maharashtra, on an unspecified date to be announced on September 12. His indefinite hunger strike, now in its 13th day, demands the government validate Kunbi caste certificates for eligible Maratha community members based on historical records from Hyderabad and Satara Gazette. Patil accused the state government of delaying action and criticised Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat and former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for perceived betrayal. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule acknowledged certificate issuance camps but raised doubts about their intent, while Mahayuti Minister Uday Samant assured resolution before the protest march. Disputes over caste certificate validation have escalated tensions in Maharashtra.
Why it matters
The protest directly impacts over 1.5 million Maratha community members in Maharashtra who rely on caste-based reservations for education and jobs. The government’s response could either resolve long-standing grievances or deepen political divisions ahead of upcoming elections, with implications for coalition stability in the state.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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